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Selling electrical and electronic products in South Korea

In South Korea, electrical appliances need safety certification, safety verification or a supplier's declaration of conformity under the Electrical Appliances and Consumer Products Safety Control Act, run by KATS. Radio and EMC equipment also needs conformity assessment under the Radio Waves Act, through the National Radio Research Agency (RRA). Listed equipment has hazardous substance limits and take-back duties.

Updated · Each section links to the official source it comes from

Electrical safety
Electrical Appliances and Consumer Products Safety Control Act (전기용품 및 생활용품 안전관리법)
Three tiers
Safety certification, safety verification, supplier's declaration
Radio and EMC
Conformity assessment under the Radio Waves Act (전파법)
Applications
Radio conformity online through the RRA
Hazardous substances
Maximum levels for listed equipment
E-waste
Collection and recycling duties for listed manufacturers and importers

Before a product goes on sale

The questions to answer, in the order they usually come up.

  1. 1Is the product subject to safety certification, safety verification or a supplier's declaration? Read more
  2. 2Does it transmit radio or cause or suffer electromagnetic interference, and which conformity route applies? Read more
  3. 3Do the product or package carry the marks for each route? Read more
  4. 4Are the conformity documents kept, and is a change reported? Read more
  5. 5Is it listed equipment with hazardous substance limits or take-back duties? Read more

The rules, by area

What each area covers, the texts that set it, and what the official pages say.

Electrical safety: three tiers

Certification, verification or declaration, depending on the product.

  • "Electrical appliances" are industrially manufactured products used by connecting to an AC or DC power source, and their components or parts (Article 2, Electrical Appliances and Consumer Products Safety Control Act).
  • For products subject to safety certification, the manufacturer (including a foreign exporter) or importer obtains certification for each model from a safety certification body, after product testing and a factory assessment (Articles 2 and 5). Certified products are inspected periodically, once every two years (Article 7).
  • For products subject to safety verification, each model is tested by a designated testing lab and the result reported to the minister; the documents showing conformity are kept (Article 15).
  • For products under the supplier's declaration, the manufacturer or importer tests each model itself or through a third party; for electrical appliances the declaration is reported to the minister, and the documents are kept (Article 23).
  • The products in each tier are set by Ministerial Decree; a change to a certified or reported product can require an amended certification or a change report (Articles 5(2) and 15(2)).

How we help: Compliant Always keeps each certificate, test report and declaration with the model it covers, and shows what is missing or due. Ask about this

Radio and EMC conformity assessment

Broadcasting and communications equipment, and equipment that causes or suffers interference.

  • Anyone intending to manufacture, sell or import broadcasting and communications equipment, or machinery that causes electromagnetic interference or is affected by it, obtains certification of conformity, registration of conformity, a self-conformity declaration or interim certification (Article 58-2(1), Radio Waves Act).
  • Equipment likely to harm the spectrum environment or networks, or to cause significant interference, needs certification of conformity from the Minister of Science and ICT after testing (Article 58-2(2)).
  • Other equipment is registered after testing by a designated testing laboratory, and lower-risk equipment set by Presidential Decree can follow a self-conformity declaration (Article 58-2(3) and (4)).
  • The RRA accepts conformity assessment applications online at ekcc.go.kr.

How we help: Compliant Always keeps the radio certificate or registration and the test reports with the model, beside its electrical safety documents. Ask about this

Marks and labels

What goes on the product or its package.

  • Certified products, or their packages, carry the safety certification mark and the marks the safety standards set (Article 9, Electrical Appliances and Consumer Products Safety Control Act).
  • Products subject to safety verification and to the supplier's declaration carry their own marks (Articles 18 and 25).
  • No safety certification mark or similar mark may be used without certification, and marks may not be modified or removed (Article 9(2) and (3)).
  • Parallel importers label products as parallel imports subject to safety control (Article 38).
  • Radio conformity assessment is indicated on the equipment or its packaging (Article 58-2, Radio Waves Act).

How we help: Compliant Always checks your artwork for the marks each route needs, and keeps the final version with the product. Ask about this

Hazardous substances and e-waste

Duties for listed electrical and electronic equipment.

  • Manufacturers and importers of electrical and electronic equipment specified by Presidential Decree keep hazardous substances below maximum levels (Article 9, Act on Resource Circulation of Electrical and Electronic Equipment and Vehicles).
  • They follow the guidelines on materials and structure for easier recycling, and submit an evaluation report on them (Article 10).
  • They examine or assess compliance with the hazardous substance limits and disclose the outcome publicly (Article 11).
  • Manufacturers and importers of listed equipment above a business size collect waste from their equipment and have it recycled, against annual recycling quantities (Articles 15 and 16).

How we help: Compliant Always keeps the substance test reports and disclosures with each model. Ask about this

Who answers for what

WhoWhat they answer forHow we help
Manufacturer, including a foreign exporterSafety certification, verification or declaration for each model, and the marks.Certificates and test reports kept with each model.
ImporterThe same safety and radio routes where the manufacturer has not done them, and the documents.Certificates read and dated before the goods arrive.
Parallel importerLabelling products as parallel imports subject to safety control.The original certificates kept with the import.
SellerNot selling products without the required marks.Product documents ready for the retailer or platform that asks.

National ministries and local government

Product law in South Korea is national. Each Act names the minister in charge, such as the Minister of Food and Drug Safety for food and cosmetics, and the Minister of Trade, Industry and Resources for electrical, consumer and children's products.

Many licences, reports and inspections under those Acts are handled by a Mayor or Do Governor or the head of a Si/Gun/Gu, so the local office named in the Act is often the one a business deals with.

Questions businesses ask

Which law covers electrical safety in Korea?
The Electrical Appliances and Consumer Products Safety Control Act, administered by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources and KATS.
What are the three tiers for electrical appliances?
Safety certification by a certification body with factory assessment, safety verification by a designated testing lab with a report, and a supplier's declaration of conformity based on the supplier's own or third-party testing.
Can a foreign manufacturer hold the safety certification?
Yes. The Act counts a person exporting products made abroad to Korea as a manufacturer, who can obtain certification for each model (Article 5(1)).
How often are certified products inspected?
A safety certification body inspects certified products and manufacturing facilities once every two years (Article 7).
Do wireless products need separate approval in Korea?
Yes. Broadcasting and communications equipment, and equipment that causes or suffers electromagnetic interference, goes through conformity assessment under Article 58-2 of the Radio Waves Act.
What are the radio conformity routes?
Certification of conformity, registration of conformity, self-conformity declaration, or interim certification where no criteria exist (Article 58-2, Radio Waves Act).
Where are radio applications made?
Online, through the RRA conformity assessment system at ekcc.go.kr, according to the RRA.
Does Korea restrict hazardous substances in electronics?
Yes, for equipment specified by Presidential Decree: manufacturers and importers keep hazardous substances below maximum levels and disclose compliance (Articles 9 and 11).
Who pays for e-waste recycling?
Manufacturers and importers of listed equipment above a business size collect and recycle waste from their equipment, against annual quantities (Articles 15 and 16).
What must a parallel importer do?
Label the product as a parallel import subject to safety control, with any further facts set by Ministerial Decree (Article 38).
How does Compliant Always help with selling in South Korea?
Our team reads the rules for the markets you sell in, from Korean law and the regulators' own pages. Compliant Always shows which apply to your product, keeps the documents behind each one ready, and watches the sources for changes. It shows what the requirements say and what your documents show; you decide.

Sources

Compliant Always is a product of Lettuce Labs LLC. It shows what requirements say and what your documents show. It is not legal advice, and you decide.

Tell us what you make, and we will show you the rules for it.

Name the product and the markets you sell in. We will come back to you with what applies in South Korea and what your paperwork needs to show.

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